Research InterestsLimnology; Ecosystem Functioning; Biogeochemistry; Macrosystems Ecology; Biodiversity; Plankton Ecology; Pelagic Community Structuring and Stability; Freshwater Resources Management
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About ChrisI grew up in St. Joseph, Michigan, where the St. Joseph River enters Lake Michigan, and spent much of my childhood boating and fishing on the lake. Because of the importance of the lake to local economies, water quality issues were well publicized, and I became aware of the influence that humans and climate have on water quality at a young age. During my undergraduate career at University of Texas-Austin, I enrolled in a Limnology and Oceanography course and quickly realized that I wanted to pursue a career in aquatic sciences.
After briefly working as an Industrial Waste Specialist at an Indiana municipality, I attended Baylor University to pursue my doctorate with Owen T. Lind. My doctoral research investigated terrestrial organic matter subsidies in man-made impoundments and how the relative contribution of organic matter from terrestrial and aquatic primary production fluctuate through multiple temporal scales (i.e., annual and decadal). After receiving my doctoral degree and working for the Center for Spatial Research at Baylor University as an Aquatic Ecosystem Modeler, I assumed a post as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in John Downing’s laboratory at Iowa State University. Iowa is one of the most intensively managed agricultural regions in the world, and I enjoyed working with scientists, landowners, and local communities to solve complex water quality issues associated with nutrient enrichment of lakes. I recently transitioned into a Research Associate post with the Large Lakes Observatory and Minnesota Sea Grant at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where I plan to pursue my research interests across large gradients in lake productivity and human impact, as well as extending my research to large lake ecosystems. |
Education |
Ph.D., Biology Baylor University 2009
B.S., Biology University of Texas-Austin 1998 |
Appointments |
Research Associate University of Minnesota-Duluth 2016-Present
Postdoctoral Research Associate Iowa State University 2010-2016 Adjunct Assistant Professor University of Iowa 2012-2015 Lecturer Baylor University 2010 Research Associate Baylor University 2006-2010 Graduate Assistant Baylor University 2000-2006 |